Malombe, speaker Katisya fight over alleged impeachment plot

A war of words has erupted between Kitui Governor Julius Malombe and assembly speaker Kevin Katisya, with the latter accusing the county chief of a scheme to have him impeached.

Katisya claims the executive led by the governor is planning his removal from office for opposing an alleged attempt to capture the county assembly and MCAs.

Malombe on the other hand has fought back by issuing a scathing rejoinder accusing the speaker of mischief and playing the role of MCA while he has no such mandate.

He told the speaker to change his ways and stop his anti-government statements. During recent vernacular radio and TV station talk shows, Katisya disclosed he was privy to plans to impeach him after he resisted efforts by the executive to control the assembly.

“I am aware that there are people outside the Kitui county assembly out to make sure I am impeached. I have also received papers to that effect,” Katisya said on Wednesday.

He said his enemies were angry that he was opposed to the Kitui assembly being neutralised in its oversight role to turned into a praise and worship team for the county executive.

Katisya said there were elaborate plans to capture MCAs, including the speaker, to effectively make the assembly a toothless bulldog.

He said since he was being victimised for doing his work as dictated by the law, he would not be intimidated not to perform his duties of guiding the assembly on its oversight roles.

Katisya said he would not take any attempts to shunt him out of office lying down. He would put up a fight as he sought God’s protection from his adversaries.

Responding to Katisya’s statements later on Wednesday, Malombe accused the speaker of overstepping his mandate and assuming the role of an MCA while he was not.

“He has the responsibility of guiding debate in the assembly as the speaker. He is not the boss of the MCAs but the latter are his bosses,” Malombe said.

He said the speaker does not have the authority to dictate to MCAs. He faulted Katisya for issuing anti-Kitui government statements on TV and circulating footage on social media.

The governor, who spoke during the launch of a newborn unit at the Kitui County Referral Hospital, dismissed claims by Katisya during a TV talk show that Kitui health facilities lacked drugs.

He called on MCAs to take action against Katisya since they were his masters after electing him into the speaker’s office.

“You have made yourselves to appear like he is your boss but the contrary is true,” Malombe told Kitui MCAs present, led by the chairperson of the assembly health committee Bernard Munyasya.

Malombe said the speaker’s unsubstantiated statements against the county government would no longer be condoned.